Science News – Newsletter for January 1, 2011

Want a higher follower tally on Twitter? Resort to flaming!

LONDON – Want to have more people following you on Twitter or commenting on your blog post? Well, be prepared to resort to flaming to anger and upset people, says a study.

A group of Slovenian and British researchers used something called ’sentiment analysis’ to identify emotional content in posts left on the BBC’s online discussion … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Want a higher follower tally on Twitter? Resort to flaming!.

‘Attraction chemicals’ pheromones do not exist, claims scientist

LONDON – Pheromones-the mysterious chemical signals that ‘trigger attraction’-do not even exist, a scientist has claimed.

Richard Doty at Penn State University’s School of Medicine said that mammals, unlike insects, do not give off chemical signals that other mammals can then pick up.

Doty said he does not believe that a single chemical emitted by one mammal … Read more »»».

Incest puts an end to sexual violence among animals

LONDON – A new study has revealed that incest among animals helps put an end to sexual violence.n some species, competition between males can mean that females are harmed during copulation.

Male cowpea weevils, for instance, have spiky penises that puncture the female’s insides and are thought to help anchor the male inside her, ensuring that …. Source article  : Incest puts an end to sexual violence among animals.

Physicists create supernova in a jar

WASHINGTON – University of Toronto and Rutgers University physicists have mimicked the explosion of a supernova in miniature.

A supernova is an exploding star. In a certain type of supernova, the detonation starts with a flame ball buried deep inside a white dwarf. The flame ball is much lighter than its surroundings, so it rises rapidly …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Physicists create supernova in a jar.

CPAP therapy cuts fatigue, ups energy level in sleep apnea patients

WASHINGTON – A new study has suggested that that three weeks of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduces fatigue and increases energy in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

These results have indicated that participants were no longer suffering from clinically significant levels of fatigue after the three-week intervention period.

“These results are important, as they highlight that …. Source article  : CPAP therapy cuts fatigue, ups energy level in sleep apnea patients.

How humans ‘reach for something’ using ‘brain maps’

WASHINGTON – A new study at UC Santa Barbara explains how humans reach out for different things – be it reaching out to a dance partner or a glass of water in the night – the brain uses different “maps” to plan for each of these movements.

In preparing for each of these reaching movements, the …. Original article  : How humans ‘reach for something’ using ‘brain maps’.

It’s official: Men are hornier than women

WASHINGTON – Innumerable studies have gone into finding out ‘reality of the male sex drive’, but now a new study claims that men really are ‘hornier’ than women.

Roy F. Baumeister at Florida State University, Kathleen Catanese at a Midwestern college and Kathleen Vohs, a professor of marketing, set out to find the truth, reports Oxford … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : It’s official: Men are hornier than women.

Stackable electric cars, telepresence screens ‘just a generation away’

LONDON – According to a new vision of the future set out today, stackable electric cars and ‘telepresence’ screens are just one generation away.

The study, Megacities on the Move, suggests ways of overcoming transport infrastructure in huge urban sprawls.

One idea is electric cars that can be nested together like shopping trolleys, available for people to … Read more »»».

If your GPS stops working, find your way with ’shoe radar’!

WASHINGTON – The invasion of GPS technology in everything – from cars to cell phones – has ensured that we never get lost, but what if your GPS stops working?

North Carolina State University and Carnegie Mellon University researchers have now developed a shoe-embedded radar system that may help you find your way.

“There are situations where …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : If your GPS stops working, find your way with ’shoe radar’!.

TB patients at a higher risk for lung cancer: Study

WASHINGTON – A new study has found evidence of increased lung cancer risk among people with tuberculosis.

Researchers at China Medical University and Hospital in Taiwan randomly selected 1 million patients covered under the country’s National Health Insurance (NHI) program.

All patients aged 20 years and older with a new diagnosis of tuberculosis between 1998 and 2000 … Read more >>>.

Kolkata tourists still stranded in Himachal hills

SHIMLA – Himachal Pradesh’s picturesque tourist town Kalpa in Kinnaur district Saturday remained cut off from the rest of the country and over 100 tourists from West Bengal were stranded, an official said.

Heavy snowfall in the region blocked the roads leading to the town.
“All the tourists are fine and they are staying in … Original article on : Kolkata tourists still stranded in Himachal hills.

World welcomes New Year amid blizzard, flood and blasts

NEW YORK/SYDNEY/LONDON – Revellers embraced the New Year with high spirit and parties across the globe amid bad weather as well as threat of terror strikes and bomb blast in some parts.

Flood and the threat of storms failed to dampen the New Year bash in Australia as thousands of people flocked for celebration in … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : World welcomes New Year amid blizzard, flood and blasts.

Bright sunny day in Himachal

SHIMLA – After three days of moderate to heavy snowfall, the hills of Himachal Pradesh Saturday woke up to a bright sunny morning but with extreme cold climatic conditions.

“Most of the areas in the state witnessed a bright sunny morning after days of snowfall and rain,” Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh here told IANS.
… Read more >>>.

Clear, cold morning welcomes 2011

NEW DELHI – The first day of 2011 saw a cold breeze blowing in the morning and the weatherman said the skies would be clear but without much sunshine.

“The rains have brought in a chilly breeze. The day is expected to be cold, and the skies will be clear,” said an official of the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Clear, cold morning welcomes 2011.

Facebook topples Google as the most visited website in US in 2010

LONDON – Facebook has claimed the Internet’s top spot from Google as the most visited website in the United States in 2010, according to a new study from online measurement service Experian Hitwise.

The social network, which was the subject of a Hollywood film in 2010, was the top-visited website for the first time and accounted …. Source  : Facebook topples Google as the most visited website in US in 2010.

Eastern hemisphere will witness solar eclipse on Jan 4

WASHINGTON – A dramatic partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia on January 4.

Depending on the viewer’s location, the Moon will slowly cover and then uncover up to 80 percent of the Sun’s disk over a 3-hour period.

For many cities in Western Europe and Africa, Tuesday’s event will already … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Eastern hemisphere will witness solar eclipse on Jan 4.

Nintendo warns ‘3D game console could harm eyesight of kids under 6???

LONDON – Japanese firm Nintendo has issued a warning that children under the age of six should not play its new console in 3D as it may harm their eyesight.

The firm also warns players of all ages to take a break at least every 30 minutes to avoid eye fatigue.

The Nintendo 3DS it will be …. Original article  : Nintendo warns ‘3D game console could harm eyesight of kids under 6′.

Human brain ’shrinking’ since 20,000 yrs ‘making us stupider day by day’

LONDON – A new study has said that the human brain has been shrinking since the last 20,000 years, suggesting that we may be getting dumber day by day.

“Over the past 20,000 years, the average volume of the human male brain has decreased from 1,500 cubic centimetres to 1,350 cubic centimetres, losing a chunk the …. Original source  : Human brain ’shrinking’ since 20,000 yrs ‘making us stupider day by day’.

Blizzard, snow disrupts life in Japan

TOKYO – Blizzard, snow and avalanche crippled normal life in Japan, causing traffic rush during New Year holiday and casualties in some parts of the country.

Four men on patrol at a ski resort in the town of Kofu, Tottori Prefecture in western Japan were killed in an avalanche Friday, authorities said.
Xinhua reported …. Read the original article  : here.

India to find reasons for its rockets’ failures

BANGALORE/CHENNAI – India will analyse the flight data of its heavy rockets, including the geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-F06) that broke up on Christmas Day, to find out reasons for its failure and take corrective measures, the space agency said Friday.

“A failure analysis committee has been constituted to analyse the flight data of the … Read this article on Gaea Times at : India to find reasons for its rockets’ failures.